Flat sheet, closable to form a carrying bag

ABSTRACT

A surface-forming sheet ( 1 ) suitable for play that can be converted through two or more sewn-on zip fasteners ( 7 ) into a bag, closed at the top, which can receive, for example, building blocks or other equipment lying on the sheet ( 1 ).

BACKGROUND

[0001] The subject of the invention is a flat sheet, formed to beclosable to produce a carrying bag, which includes a textile surfacestructure with a round or polygonal shape and with means for erectingand bringing together the peripheral outer region.

[0002] Covers or bath towels which can be drawn together by cords andthe like to form a substantially closed bag are known.

[0003] In German Utility Model 93 18 975, an octagonal bath towel isdisclosed in which eight trapezoidal cloth sections connected togetheralong the sides are fastened around a central, octagonal surface. A cordor string is inserted into the base sides, formed with hems, of theeight trapezoids, and at one place projects as a loop over the outeredge of the cloth. The base sides of the trapezoidal sections can begathered up by pulling on the cord, and a bag is created in whichbathing accessories and the like can be transported. A disadvantage ofthis bath towel is that an opening which cannot be closed remains at thetop, since the gathering up of the externally situated seam of the bathtowel does not permit a tight closure. Thus small accessories cannot besecurely stowed, since the bath towel shaped into a bag has no intrinsicstability and, when not carried by the cord, collapses into itself, andso the contents can fall out at the top through the opening.

[0004] From EP 0 578 247 B1, a multi-purpose container is furthermoreknown which is drawn together at the top by a cord set into the seam ofa cloth of annular shape. The bag has the same disadvantages as that inthe above-mentioned German Utility Model 93 18 975.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention has as its object to provide a flat sheetwhich can be closed to form a holding bag and which makes possible asubstantially complete closure of the interior and prevents smallobjects falling out.

[0006] This object is attained by a sheet upon which at least three zipfasteners are mounted on one surface side, forming the sides of atriangle, each having two zip fastener portions. The ends of the zipfastener portions of the zip fasteners which are engageable together inan inlet area for a closing element are arranged at an obtuse anglerelative to one another.

[0007] The replacement, by suitably arranged zip fasteners, of the cordheretofore used for forming the bag makes possible an absolutely secureclosure of the bag. The bag furthermore obtains high stability, evenwithout stiffening means of the floor region, making it possible to makethe contents of the bag accessible from above with the zip fastenerspartially or fully opened. The opened bag makes it possible, forexample, to set this down as an island-like play space for smallchildren on parquet floors, carpeted floors, or in the open outside ahouse, on stone floors or lawn surfaces. For example, children can playand build with LEGO building blocks on the flat structure. By closingthe zip fasteners, the mostly small play blocks fall into the center andcan be placed aside or carried on travels. Partial opening of the bagupper portion makes it possible for children to have access to thebuilding blocks when traveling in a car or train, without the blocksfalling out or first having to be spread out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention is explained in detail based on the preferredexemplary embodiments.

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a flat sheet of circular shape with holding loops orhandles fitted to the periphery (use side upward),

[0010]FIG. 2 shows the flat sheet from the back side with the zipfasteners fastened thereto (use side downward),

[0011]FIG. 3 shows the flat sheet according to FIG. 1, with buildingblocks spread out thereon;

[0012]FIG. 4 shows the flat sheet when forming a bag (first zip fastenerclosed),

[0013]FIG. 5 shows the flat sheet when forming a bag, with two alreadyclosed zip fasteners,

[0014]FIG. 6 shows the completely closed bag, lifted from the floor andcarried by a loop or loop,

[0015]FIG. 7 shows the bag with partially opened zip fasteners foraccessibility from above,

[0016]FIG. 8 shows the flat sheet held by four holding loops forcarrying to another place of use,

[0017]FIG. 9 shows a sheet provided with four zip fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a surface structure preferably made of textilematerial, termed a sheet 1 for short, with plural, for example four,holding loops 3′ or handles 3. The sheet, laid out flat, can be cutcircular or polygonal. Natural or synthetic fabrics can of course beused as the textile material. The outer border is preferably reinforcedwith a seam or hem 5.

[0019] The sheet 1, which includes three zip fasteners 7, is shown fromthe underside in FIG. 2. Zip fasteners are sewn or otherwise fastened asan equilateral triangle to the sheet 1, and the vertices of the triangleare situated on the periphery of the sheet 1. Each side of the triangleis formed by the zip fasteners 7 and includes two zip fastener portions7′ of equal length. The zip fastener portions 7′ can be connected to thesheet 1 in three different ways. In the two preferred ways, as shown onthe sides a and b, the slider 9 with which the zip fastener halves 7′can be guided into facing engagement, is situated in the region of thetwo opposed ends 8′ and 8″. On the side b, the two ends 8′ and 8″ areconnected together and the slider 9 already engages around a few teethof both zip fastener portions 7′. For bringing together the two zipfastener portions 7′ on the side b, the slider 9 consequently has onlyto be guided toward the ends 10′, 10″. On the side a, the two ends 8′and 8″ easily mutually overlap or cross, and to bring the two zipfastener portions 7′ together, the end 8″ has first to be inserted intothe slider 9, as is usual on closing a jacket or the like. A furtherpossibility is that the two ends 8′, 8″ of the two zip fastener portions7′ which intersect in the middle are connected together, and the slider9 is arranged at the end 10′ and has to be connected to the end 10″ forclosing (not shown). This embodiment makes it easily possible to bringthe sheet 1 together into a bag; with greater filling, the two firstmentioned embodiments are preferred. The zip fastener portions 7′ canrun straight or curved.

[0020] In the example according to FIG. 2, in which the three zipfasteners 7 form an equilateral triangle, i.e., the zip fastenerportions 7′ are arranged on a common straight line, the closed bagobtains a triangular base surface 11 (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 2).An enlarged base surface 11 can be attained if the zip fastener portions7′ run at an obtuse angle or, as indicated in FIG. 2 by dot-dash linesin the region of the side c, run in a curve. The arrangement of theaccording to the invention 7′ does not alter the functionally of theinvention.

[0021] The holding loops 3′ can be formed, in a particular embodiment ofthe invention, by the support band of the zip fasteners 7. Additionalsewing-on is thereby dispensed with, and the forces on lifting a filledbag 15 are transmitted directly to the zip fastener bands. A local hightensile load of the surface structure does not occur in this embodiment.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows the sheet 1 again, as previously shown in FIG. 1, butwith building blocks 13 situated on it, for example, LEGO buildingblocks (LEGO is a registered trademark of the company LEGO System A/S,DK-7190 Billund, Denmark).

[0023] The sheet 1 can serve as a “play area” or as a stowage surfacefor reserve blocks when building with the blocks 13 near the sheet 1.

[0024] At evening or on ending play, the sheet 1 can be converted withlittle effort into a bag 15, in that the zip fastener portions 7′ areclosed one after another. For this purpose, the sheet turned over inwardon one side, and the two zip fastener portions 7′ are made accessiblewhich during play are situated at the back side of the “play area”.After the closing of the first zip fastener 7 there follows the closingof the second, in that a further portion of the sheet 1 is turned overand the next zip, fastener portions 7′ are closed (see FIG. 5). Afterclosing the third zip fastener 7, the sheet 1, now reshaped into apyramid with a triangular stand surface, can be gripped by the loop 3′and transported, without a substantial distortion of the bag 15 (FIG.6).

[0025] According to FIG. 7, the bag 15 can also be made accessible fromabove by partially opening one or more zip fasteners 7, i.e., thebuilding blocks 13 no longer lie on the extended sheet 1, but can betaken out of the bag 15 when space conditions are restricted, forexample in automobiles or on a train.

[0026] For temporary transportation, for example at evening when thechildren are put to bed, the sheet 1 can be carried open (FIG. 8) by theloops 3′ and 3″.

[0027] The invention has beed described for three zip fasteners 7forming a triangle. Four zip fasteners 7 forming a square could ofcourse be fastened to a sheet 1 (FIG. 9). On closing the respective zipfastener portions 7′, there is likewise formed a bag, 15 closed at thetop, with a square base 11.

[0028] The sheet 1 must not overlap the zip fasteners 7 on the outside,i.e., the zip fasteners 7 directly form the edges 5 of the sheet 1.According to the first embodiment example, the sheet 1 would then bytriangular in shape; according to the last-named embodiment (FIG. 9),with four zip fasteners 7, the sheet 1 would accordingly be square. Adisadvantage of this last-named embodiment is the smaller “play area”(cf. round surface indicated by a dot-dash line).

[0029] The sheets 1 according to the invention, when the zip fastenerends 8′, 8″ are not connected, can be widened to corresponding largersizes with further sheets 1 of the same kind (not shown). Two sheets 1connected together can be built up to a bag 15 with double the content.

[0030] Instead of zip fasteners, which consist of two mutually engagingzip fastener portions, adhesive strips or holding strips (also knownunder the name Velcro® strips) could also be used.

1. Flat sheet (1) formed to be closable to a carrying bag (15),comprising a textile surface structure with a round or polygonal shapeand with means for erecting and bringing together a peripheral outerregion thereof, including at least three zip fasteners (7) mounted onone surface side of the surface structure, forming sides of a triangle,each of the zip fasteners (7) having two zip fastener portions (7′), andends (8′, 8″) of the zip fastener portions (7′) which are engageabletogether in an inlet area for a closing element (9) are arranged at anobtuse angle relative to one another.
 2. Flat sheet according to claim1, wherein the two ends (8′, 8″) are connected together by the closingelement (9), or lie mutually adjacent or slightly overlap each otherwhen the surface structure is laid flat.
 3. Sheet according to claim 1,wherein the zip fastener portions (7′) extend in a curved path.
 4. Sheetaccording to claim 1, wherein loops (3) or straps (3′) are fastened tothe peripheral outer region.
 5. Sheet according to claim 4, wherein theloops or straps (3′) form a portion of a support tape of the zipfastener or are directly fastened thereto.